Date:06/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/06/stories/2008070659680900.htm
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Ask why and why not: Rahul Gandhi

— Photo: A.M. Faruqui

AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi with school students at a function in Bhopal on Saturday.

Bhopal: Youth icon and AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi called upon school students to never fear darkness and cultivate the habit of asking “why and why not” to become successful in life.

Narrating three stories to encourage students of Sanskar Valley School, promoted by the Bhaskar Group of newspapers, Mr. Gandhi said:

“When I was six years old I used to fear darkness a lot. But one day, my grandmother [former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi] asked me to go alone in the darkness and after sometime I found that I was no more afraid of darkness. “Therefore, never be scared of anything in life,” he told the youngsters after inaugurating two new hostel buildings here.

The second story Mr. Gandhi told them was about a teacher who taught him to develop the habit of asking “why” when he was 15 years old.

The third story was about his life in college as a 20-year-old. At that time he was attracted to boxing. But the coach told him he may not be able to take up the sport. When he was on the verge of giving up the idea, the coach called him and said, “why not?” That again had a deep impact on his personality.

“Therefore, you must develop the habit of asking ‘why not’ to achieve success in life,” Mr. Gandhi said.

Mr. Gandhi said he would get married soon. To a question, he outlined the woman he would like to marry: “I think an open-minded person who is sensitive about the world around and a person who tries to understand the world from other people’s eyes.” — PTI

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